Reebok has unveiled a limited-edition 3D-printed running shoe that replaces shoelaces with a new “liquid lace system” in which printed materials are wrapped around the outsole like a vine.
The Floatride running shoe was designed at Reebok’s Liquid Factory, a two-year-old futuristic initiative at Reebok that leverages a proprietary liquid material, state-of-the-art software and robotics to draw shoes in three-dimensional layers. The two “liquid” components of the 3D-printed Reebok Liquid Floatride shoes are the stretch-to-fit web that hugs the outsole and a layer on the bottom-side of the shoe that provides lightweight traction.
Bill McInnis, Head of Reebok Future, told Digital Trends that the company plans to use this liquid manufacturing process to produce additional components of the shoe until entire sneakers can be built using this 3D-drawing and 3D-printing technique. The idea is that it would not only make Rebok shoes lighter, but enable customization and faster innovation by eschewing the traditional molding process.
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“Last year we launched the Liquid Factory concept with the Liquid Speed shoe. It was definitely a striking silhouette, as we aimed to showcase the way that the 3D-drawing process could change the way shoes are made,” McInnis said. “What we’re excited to highlight with Liquid Floatride is how we can apply the Liquid Factory process to any of our existing products, to make great shoes even better.”
The next generation of Liquid Factory shoes will feature liquid materials not only on the outsole but also in the cushioning and upper fit systems, according to McInnis.
Reebok’s Floatride shoes, designed for distance running and cardio workouts, also feature the company’s Flexweave Technology, an interlocking figure-eight weave design made with chenille yarn that is similar in concept to Nike Flyknit.
SportTechie Takeaway:
Sneaker companies are working to differentiate themselves with new materials designed from high-tech processes, which includes 3D-printing. Additive manufacturing enables companies to innovate faster by drastically streamlining the process and reducing the weeks- or even months-long wait times to process new designs through traditional manufacturing methods.
Adidas, the parent company of Reebok, announced earlier this month that it plans to 3D-print 100,000 shoes this year as it explores innovative materials and production methods. Under Armour partnered in November with EOS, a supplier of industrial 3D printing equipment and consulting services, to use advanced laser sintering technology, an additive manufacturing technique in which a laser builds objects using powdered materials. Nike has been exploring swifter prototyping with 3D printing through a partnership with HP and 3D-printed components for shoes used by Olympian Allyson Felix during the 2016 Summer Olympics. New Balance has been working with 3D printing companies since at least 2015, and struck a deal with 3D-printing giant Formlab last summer to scale its 3D-production capacity.